Description:

At 16-years-old, Melanson spent the summer waitressing at the summer conferences at Northfield School for Girls. The New England backdrop included the 125-room Schell Chateau. Her adventures include a grand tour of the Chateau under the cloak of darkness and is documented with photos and floor plans. She pleaded with her parents to send her to the boarding school, but their answer was “No”. Nevertheless she retained an attachment to the school. When she became an adult she began giving to the alumnae fund because she believed in the ethic of the school. One year a flustered alumnae secretary phoned asking what class she had been affiliated with, presuming the undocumented alum had probably flunked out. Her answer was “Why 1964!” After that she was invited to reunions and her "news" appeared in the alumnae publications. In 2004, came the announcement that the Northfield campus was closing. That was the spark that prompted her to return for "her" 40th Reunion. This is that story.